Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
A Non-invasive Way to Isolate and Phenotype Cells from the Conjunctiva
Published on: July 5, 2017
[Conjunctival impression cytology in patients with normal and impaired OSDI scores]
F Zuazo1, D López-Ponce1, D Salinas-Toro1
1Fundación Oftalmológica Los Andes (FOLA), Santiago, Chile.
Purpose:
To describe goblet cell density and Nelson grading in different areas of the ocular surface using conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) among patients with normal and impaired Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores.
Material And Methods:
Patients (n=166) under assessment for dry eye were recruited between 2011 and 2012 and classified according to the OSDI score in 4 categories (normal and impaired). Cytological study (CIC plus Papanicolaou staining) using the Nelson grading system, with modifications in staging, and goblet cell counting were performed on the nasal, temporal, inferior, and superior bulbar conjunctival surfaces.
Results:
Nelson grading was significantly higher in patients with a severely impaired OSDI score (1.41±0.14) compared to normal patients (0.86±0.09) (P<.01). Goblet cell density was significantly reduced in patients with a severely impaired OSDI score (310.24±56.24 cells per sample) compared with normal subjects (497.31±50.07 cells per sample) (P<.001). Compared with the photoexposed bulbar conjunctiva, goblet cell density on the non-photoexposed conjunctiva was significantly higher both in patients with mild (P<.01) and moderate (P<.001) OSDI scores.
Conclusion:
Patients with severely impaired OSDI scores have less goblet cells and a higher Nelson grade. Goblet cells are more abundant on the non-photoexposed conjunctiva.
